BRIGADIER GENERAL DUANE H. ERICKSON

Brigadier General Duane H. Erickson

Brigadier
General Duane Harold "Leif" Erickson, USAF-Ret., 84, of Prescott, Arizona,
surrounded by the love of his family and friends, was welcomed home by his
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, February 22, 2016.

Leif was born in Farragut, Iowa to Carl and Neoma Erickson.

Leif was a decorated career Air Force officer, graduating from the United
States Military Academy West Point in 1954, the Armed Forces Staff College
in 1967, and the Air War College in 1970. He served in various leadership
positions throughout his career, including wing command in Vietnam, and as
the commander of U.S. Forces Azores. He also served at the Pentagon and NATO
headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. As a command pilot he flew 85 missions
for more than 242 combat hours and 8,000 flying hours.

Leif was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather who had an unwavering
commitment to his faith, his family, and to the military code of conduct:
duty, honor, and country. Leif and his wife, Maureen, enjoyed traveling the
world. Leif was a farm boy at heart and loved working in the garden and
greatly enjoyed the company of his dogs.

Leif was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Lois, and
granddaughter Leah.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Junior ROTC, Alzheimer's
Association, or your charity of choice.

Official USAF Biography:

Retired July 01,1984, Died February 22,2016

Brigadier General Duane H. Erickson is director of the international staff,
Inter-American Defense Board, Washington, D.C.

General Erickson was born in 1932, in Farragut, Iowa, where he graduated
from high school in 1949. He was commissioned a second lieutenant upon
graduation from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 1954.
General Erickson completed Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base,
Ala., in 1958; Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va., in 1967; Air War
College at Maxwell in 1970; and the program for executives at
Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, in 1975.

Immediately after graduation from the academy, General Erickson began
student pilot training at Bainbridge Air Force Base, Ga. He completed basic
flying training at Reese Air Force Base, Texas, in August 1955 and remained
there as an instructor pilot.

From October 1958 to January 1961, the general was a protocol officer with
the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division in Los Angeles. He then transferred
to Hanscom Field, Mass., as aide-de-camp to the commander of the Electronic
Systems Division until February 1965.

He served as flight commander with the 21st Troop Carrier
Squadron at Naha Air Base, Okinawa, until August 1966 when he entered the
Armed Forces Staff College. Following graduation General Erickson was
assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., from January 1967
to August 1969, as an action officer. In the latter part of this tour of
duty, he become chief of the Airlift Forces Branch, Deputy Directorate of
Forces Development, Directorate of Plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of
Staff for Plans and Operations. After completing the Air War College, he
returned to Naha Air Base as deputy commander for operations for the 374th
Tactical Airlift Wing until September 1971 when he become vice commander and
later commander of the 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing, Cam Ranh Bay
Air Base, Republic of Vietnam.

From June 1972 to June 1974, General Erickson commanded the 1100th
Air Base Wing at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. He then returned
to Air Force headquarters as deputy director of doctrine, concepts and
objectives in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and
Operations. During this tour of duty, General Erickson spent six months
temporary duty at North Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters, Brussels,
Belgium, where he served as chairman of the Tradeoff Study on Air Defense
Mix.

In September 1976 the general was named vice commander of the 375th
Aeromedical Airlift Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. He become commander of
the 438th Military Airlift Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.,
in February 1978 and in February 1979, took command of the U.S. Air Force
Airlift Center and the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing at Pope Air
Force Base, N.C. In March 1980 General Erickson transferred to the Azores as
commander of U.S. Forces, Azores, and the 1605th Military Airlift
Support Wing at Lajes Field. He assumed his present duties in June 1982.

The general was a command pilot with more than 8,000 flying hours. He had
flown more than 242 combat hours on 85 missions. His military decorations
and awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with
three oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters. He also wears the Republic of Vietnam
Staff Service Honor Medal 1st Class, Republic of Vietnam Social Welfare
Medal 1st Class and the Portuguese Military Merit Medal 1st Class. Upon his
retirement, he received the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.

He was promoted to Brigadier General Feb. 4, 1980, with date of rank Jan.
30, 1980.